NASW-MO Chapter Awards

Agency/Department of the Year Award

The Agency/Department of the Year Award honors an agency or department in the social service realm that exemplifies the best of the Chapter’s mission through specific professional accomplishments.

MISSION OF NASW MISSOURI CHAPTER

A member service and development association advancing a unified Social Work profession and standards, advocating for sound public social policies.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS’ MISSION

To enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on individual well-being in a social context and the well-being of society. Fundamental to social work is the attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.

In honoring the Agency/Department of the Year, the NASW Missouri Chapter highlights superb accomplishments in the practice of the agency or department’s pursuit.

Nomination Guidelines

  1. Be an overall organization, social institution, or large employer, such as a school district, medical institution, advocacy or client service system. This also includes a department within an organization and a social service agency/group practice.
  2. Have a professionally trained social worker involved in the leadership/creation/ management of the nominated program.
  3. Have a focus on continuing professional development and education.
  4. Have recognition and encouragement of the continuum of professional credentials of staff development: i.e. BSW, MSW, ACSW, Specialty.
  5. Be involved in managerial and administrative development of an effective employee/work environment.
  6. Currently employed staff of NASW-Missouri may be utilized as a resource but may not make nominations or write letters of support.
  7. Current NASW Missouri Board members or Leadership Search Committee Representatives agencies, departments or programs may not be considered for any award.
  8. Be a social work department that:
    • allows/encourages its staff to be involved in professionally affiliated groups, to do presentations on their services area, to serve on task forces, board of directors, and committees, and to work as field liaisons and mentors, which all enhance the social work profession.
    • develops new or innovative services, programs, and outreaches to serve their clients or to serve emerging social programs, such as AIDS, homelessness, and chemical dependency programs.
    • supports an advocacy focus for its client population, for example, taking a leadership focus to meet gaps and needs in services or coordinating and assessing resources while also advocating politically for legislation that works to improve client situations.

Nomination Procedure

Nomination application and information must be completed and received on or before February 7, 2025. Click here to complete the application and send supporting documentation to chapter.naswmo@socialworkers.org. If you have any further questions, please contact Cassie Brown, Executive Director NASW-MO Chapter. Nominations may be submitted by completing the following:

  1. Official Nomination Application
  2. Two-page summary of demonstrated contributions listing each of the following while incorporating the criteria listed on page 1 of the Nomination Application
    • What has the nominee accomplished?
    • What is outstanding about the nominee’s achievements?
    • What risks did the nominee take to achieve results?
    • Who are the beneficiaries of those risks taken?
  3. Curriculum vita or resume
  4. Two (2) letters of support
  5. A recent photograph (only 1 copy required). Photo will be used in the NASW-MO Chapter Journal and various other public relations publications.

To ensure the nominee's eligibility, please adhere to the nomination guidelines. Not following the guidelines or incomplete nomination applications will be eliminated from the selection process. Use clear, concise, descriptive examples of activities and accomplishments. The nomination form, summary sheet, vita/resume, support letters, and photograph must be received in the NASW-MO Chapter Office by February 7, 2025. Late nominations will not be accepted. The NASW-MO Chapter Board of Directors selects and approves an award winner based on the criteria listed above. The NASW-MO Chapter will notify the awardee and nominator. The award will be presented during Social Work Month.